Bosporus
Bosporus 1956, the old tanker where I was a galley boy
had anchored waited for orders to proceed into the black sea.
A rowing boat came alongside they were selling fez
the latest fad among us seamen.
They also sold sweet liqueurs which I drank, got drunk and sick
for the first time in my life; I was 15teen.
In the old days, you had to grow up fast and learn to howl with the dogs.
The winter weather was sunny I was awed by the Byzantine mystic
like a fairytale story. I bought the fez.
The last time I was in Istanbul -30 years later- on a ship where I was a cook.
my fall from officer grade had been painful and political.
in Istanbul going back to the ship I was followed by a back of dogs begging for food raided the galley
they knew I was a generous cook
A wandering lonely traveler I
Found you from the crowd of people in a boat
That drifted over the sparkling Bosporus,
That day the setting sun was lovely and quiet,
We spoke many words,
In the midst of my curious and quaint moments
You parted from me and wished me a pleasing trip
In a place quite unknown to me and to you,
You left me over there, but
You left your whole being with me,
In my vacant mood I still carry you as a bliss of my solitude,
Both you and that evening equally resonate upon me,
I wonder if you ever come back to that boat
With the same color and same wind of the day!
With the same rare and radiant nameless face
That emerged and thrilled me.
Tyrkia
Bosporus 1955 the old tanker where I was
A galley boy had anchored waiting for orders
To proceed into the Black Sea rowing boat came alongside
Selling fez which was the “IN” by the seamen
They also sold sweet liqueurs which I drank, got drunk
And sick for the first time in my life I was 15, in the old
Days one had to grow up fast and howl with the dogs
The winter weather sunny I was awed by its Byzantine
Mystic just like a fairy tale story; I bought a Fez
And last time I was in Istanbul 30 years later on a ship
Where I was a cook my fall from officer grade had been
Painful, but I did go ashore not very far drank beer but
What I remember the best was packs of dogs by the quay
begging for food they knew I was a generous cook.